Batman: Arkham City
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With each new tidbit of information that comes our way about Batman: Arkham City, our excitement grows exponentially. Today, DC Comics did not disappoint in adding to our hysteria.
Coming in May 2011, DC will be launching a comic book tie-in that shares the name Batman: Arkham City, bridging the gap between the original hit Batman: Arkham Asylum and the new game that's set to release later this fall. Tackling this series will be none other than the Arkham games' scribe Paul Dini, with art by Carlos D'anda, the concept artist that did the designs for both video games.
The story picks up one year after Arkham Asylum, where the new Mayor Quincy Sharp (former Arkham Warden) has closed down Arkham and instead instituted the titular Arkham City. An Escape From New York-esque prison system, inmates are free to roam about the "maximum security home" set within the heavy walls of a sectioned off piece of Gotham City real estate. Running the establishment is Dr. Hugo Strange, a character we've learned from the latest game trailer knows the identity of Batman.
Just as interesting is DC's experimentation with the digital format on this series. With the announcement, they revealed that each issue of the series would be going day-and-date digital for the same price of $2.99. In addition, they will release 8-page digital-first exclusive interludes that will be written by Dini with art by various creators. Each story costs $.99 and will feature Batman's enemies as they make their power plays within Arkham City. The shorts will only be available digitally to start, until they are collected for print down the line in the eventual Batman: Arkham City hardcover or trade paperback.
"The digital first stories offer a unique incentive for fans to experience interesting and exciting stories beyond the pages in the printed comic," said Jim Lee, DC Comics Co-Publisher. "The additional pages will serve as interludes within the regular issues and won't be necessary to follow the main story of the miniseries. Fans will also be able to read these interludes in print later, when we publish the collected edition."
Batman: Arkham City will double-ship in May, delivering the first two issues only weeks apart. In addition, issue #1 will have a variant cover featuring in-game graphics.
Coming in May 2011, DC will be launching a comic book tie-in that shares the name Batman: Arkham City, bridging the gap between the original hit Batman: Arkham Asylum and the new game that's set to release later this fall. Tackling this series will be none other than the Arkham games' scribe Paul Dini, with art by Carlos D'anda, the concept artist that did the designs for both video games.
The story picks up one year after Arkham Asylum, where the new Mayor Quincy Sharp (former Arkham Warden) has closed down Arkham and instead instituted the titular Arkham City. An Escape From New York-esque prison system, inmates are free to roam about the "maximum security home" set within the heavy walls of a sectioned off piece of Gotham City real estate. Running the establishment is Dr. Hugo Strange, a character we've learned from the latest game trailer knows the identity of Batman.
Just as interesting is DC's experimentation with the digital format on this series. With the announcement, they revealed that each issue of the series would be going day-and-date digital for the same price of $2.99. In addition, they will release 8-page digital-first exclusive interludes that will be written by Dini with art by various creators. Each story costs $.99 and will feature Batman's enemies as they make their power plays within Arkham City. The shorts will only be available digitally to start, until they are collected for print down the line in the eventual Batman: Arkham City hardcover or trade paperback.
"The digital first stories offer a unique incentive for fans to experience interesting and exciting stories beyond the pages in the printed comic," said Jim Lee, DC Comics Co-Publisher. "The additional pages will serve as interludes within the regular issues and won't be necessary to follow the main story of the miniseries. Fans will also be able to read these interludes in print later, when we publish the collected edition."
Batman: Arkham City will double-ship in May, delivering the first two issues only weeks apart. In addition, issue #1 will have a variant cover featuring in-game graphics.
Though The Riddler remained an off-screen distraction through the duration of Batman: Arkham Asylum, developer Rocksteady Studios is bringing Mr. Edward Nigma to the forefront in this year's Arkham City. But how will they update the puzzle-obsessed villain for Rocksteady's grittier Gotham?
Easy: Turn him into Jigsaw from the Saw movies! While much of that Saw comparison comes from the me-too trailer – seriously, imagine a Saw trailer but replace Jigsaw's baritone with Riddler's alto – it would appear Nigma is testing Bat's brains (read: your brains) by creating puzzles to solve. If you fail, an innocent denizen of Gotham dies. WBIE's being stingy with the assets, so all we've got to offer you are these images and our word. We'll update this post, or run another, when Warner's done milking this announcement for all it's worth.
[Update: We heard back from the PR outfit handling Arkham City and were told the video – yeah, the one that we saw almost two weeks ago – won't be available until a "later date."]
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